ABSTRACT
Q1 What is the most widely accepted definition of overweight and obesity in the paediatric population? A Body mass index (BMI) ≥30 (overweight) or ≥35 (obese) B BMI ≥35 (overweight) or ≥40 (obese) C BMI ≥40 (overweight) or ≥40 with associated co-morbidities
(obese) D BMI >85th percentile (overweight) or >95th percentile (obese) E BMI >95th percentile (overweight) or >99th percentile (obese)
A1 D An adult with a BMI ≥35 is considered obese. In children and adolescents who are still growing and have changing body shapes, BMI can be less accurate, particularly as it fails to distinguish between fat and fat-free mass. Thus, the application of growth charts and multiple percentiles is necessary to determine overweight and obesity for age and sex in this group. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now define paediatric obesity as a BMI greater than the 95th percentile, and overweight as a BMI greater than the 85th percentile. Exceeding the 99th percentile is referred to as extreme paediatric obesity.
